Cape Town Train Derails

biometrics

biometrics

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A Cape Town bound business express train derailed with a colleague of mine on board this morning!

Article is in Afrikaans, can't find an English version: http://www.ak48.co.za/?p=2125

Dis Blou Maandag vir sommige Kapenaars! Passasiers op Metro Rail se eksklusiewe Business Express het vanoggend vroeg hulself koud geskrik toe hulle wa buite Bellville gedeeltelik ontspoor het. Ene Steven Schmutz wat op die Business Express was, vertel dat die betrokke stuk treinspoor nou “in sy glorie is.”

Hy vertel, “Die ongeluk het sowat 300 meter buite Bellville gebeur. Ons het gevoel hoe die trein erg ruk en toe verskriklik skud. Hierna het die trein tot stilstand gekom met sy voorste wiele van die treinspoor af. Ons moes toe uitklim. Dit was nogal ‘n storie, want die wa se deur is sowat ‘n meter en ‘n half bo die grond. Een dame was baie ontsteld en het erg gebewe.”

Kaartjies vir die Business Express kos duurder aangesien die diens veronderstel is om soveel beter te wees. Passasiers op die wa kry koffie en leesstof. Vanoggend se byna ontsporing het egter alles omge-ellie. Nie net is die passasiers nie verskoning aangebied nie, hulle moes ook maar self sien en kom klaar en voetslaan na die naaste ander trein.

Metro Rail was nie beskikbaar vir kommentaar nie.
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Disclosure: I'm helping with setting up the AK48.co.za web site.
 
Ninja'd said:
Any injuries or deaths?
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No, just freaked out people.

They had to jump down and walk to Bellville and there was no assistance or announcements. They chose a random train heading towards town hoping for the best, luckily it was bound for Cape Town.

This was the Business Express train btw, so you'd expect better support.
 
Last edited:
Ninja'd said:
Any injuries or deaths?

Edit: Oh just a partial derailment.
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"Eye on the TV
'cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavour
It happens to be like;
Killed by the husband
Drowned by the ocean
Shot by his own son
She used the poison in his tea
And kissed him goodbye
That's my kind of story
It's no fun 'til someone dies"
 
biometrics said:
They had to jump down and walk to Bellville and there was no assistance or announcements. They chose a random train heading towards town hoping for the best, luckily it was bound for Cape Town.
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They didn't really have to hope as all trains departing from Bellville in the direction of town are in fact going to town. :)
 
YingYang said:
They didn't really have to hope as all trains departing from Bellville in the direction of town are in fact going to town. :)
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Could have stopped at Saltriver where the other lines connect. Point is some people were in shock and there ware no assistance from Metrorail. These trains also don't have signage on them like buses telling you where they are going.
 
biometrics said:
Could have stopped at Saltriver where the other lines connect. Point is some people were in shock and there were no assistance from Metrorail. These trains also don't have signage on them like buses telling you where they are going.
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Bad form.

Maybe they were poorly prepared for this eventuality?
 
Google translate is your friend :)

Train derailed in part

It's Blue Monday for some Capetonians! Passengers on Metro Rail's exclusive Business Express early this morning themselves fright when they cart out Belleville partially derailed. One Steven Schmutz on the Business Express was told that the particular piece of railway now "in his glory."

He said, "The accident occurred some 300 meters outside Bellville. We felt the train badly while and then shake terribly. After the train came to a stop with its front wheels of the train track. We had to get out. It was quite a story, because the car's door is about a meter and a half above the ground. One lady was very upset and very greatly. "

Tickets for the Business Express is more expensive because the service is supposed to be much better. Passengers on the wagon get coffee and reading. This morning's derailment, however, almost all environmental Ellie. Not only are the passengers apologized, they also had to come see for yourself and get ready, and hiking to the nearest train others.

Metro Rail was unavailable for comment.
 
biometrics said:
No, just freaked out people.

They had to jump down and walk to Bellville and there was no assistance or announcements. They chose a random train heading towards town hoping for the best, luckily it was bound for Cape Town.

This was the Business Express train btw, so you'd expect better support.
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Not entirely accurate. I am on the Business Express Whatapp group, they always announce problems and keep us informed of all delays and problems. One user posted this to Whatsapp group: "Hi xxxx, please convey my gratitude and thanks to the Bus Xpress staff. They were fabulous and got us off the train safely."

Also, Metrorail sent the following to Business Express passengers: "Hi. Busses are on its way to pick you up at Bellville station. Thanx"
 
biometrics said:
No, just freaked out people.

They had to jump down and walk to Bellville and there was no assistance or announcements. They chose a random train heading towards town hoping for the best, luckily it was bound for Cape Town.

This was the Business Express train btw, so you'd expect better support.
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Hows Steven's nerves after this, hope its not rattled him too much. Can be quite stressful, just glad he and everybody else is ok.

(* Use to work with Steven)
 
Which train was this? I know that the one from Gordon's Bay derailed on it's way back from dropping off passengers in GB last year. Metrorail provided us with buses for the next week while the carriages were being repaired.
 
I saw the train this morning, saw it out of our offices. Although I did not know it was derailed, did not look like it.

They started Taking the carts away, one by one. There is only one left.
 
boerseun said:
Not entirely accurate. I am on the Business Express Whatapp group, they always announce problems and keep us informed of all delays and problems. One user posted this to Whatsapp group: "Hi xxxx, please convey my gratitude and thanks to the Bus Xpress staff. They were fabulous and got us off the train safely."

Also, Metrorail sent the following to Business Express passengers: "Hi. Busses are on its way to pick you up at Bellville station. Thanx"
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Just double checked. He said they did say buses were on the way but in his experience it can take 1.5 hours for them to arrive so a lot of them just took the first train at Bellville hoping it goes to Cape Town. But no assistance or announcements at Bellville station.
 
Datura said:
Which train was this? I know that the one from Gordon's Bay derailed on it's way back from dropping off passengers in GB last year. Metrorail provided us with buses for the next week while the carriages were being repaired.
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My colleague gets on at Somerset West. Is the Business Express.
 
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